Archive for the ‘Ticks’ Category

Looking For Dog and Cat Owners For An Online Survey About Ticks

https://uwveterinarycare.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Online-Tick-Survey.pdf

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The Study

The purpose of this research study is to better understand how getting a dog or cat might change your use of tick prevention methods, your exposure to ticks, and how you think about these topics. We are doing this research because Lyme disease is the most common tick transmitted disease in the United States and Wisconsin, and pet owners nd ticks on themselves more often than people who don’t own pets.

Who Qualifies

Anyone who is at least 18 years of age and owns a dog or cat is invited to participate.

What Happens

You will be asked to complete two 5 to10 minute surveys; the first survey upon enrollment, and the second later in the summer. You will also be asked to download the Tick App and join the Tick App Study.

If you are interested in participating in this research study, please enroll here: www.bit.ly/PetsAndTicks, or visit www.thetickapp.org/midwest/pets for more information.

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For more:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/08/12/pet-owners-have-nearly-2-times-the-risk-of-finding-ticks/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/03/19/are-current-tick-prevention-methods-for-dogs-working/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/04/12/tick-prevention-2019/

 

 

 

 

 

 

Category:

Activism, research, Ticks

Asian Longhorned Tick Able to Transmit RMSF in Lab Setting (Also Transmitted Within Ticks Through Ova)

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32338290/

The Ability of the Invasive Asian Longhorned Tick Haemaphysalis Longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae) to Acquire and Transmit Rickettsia Rickettsii (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae), the Agent of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Under Laboratory Conditions

2020 Apr 27;tjaa076.
doi: 10.1093/jme/tjaa076. Online ahead of print.
  • PMID: 32338290

Abstract

The invasive Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann, was first detected in the United States in 2017. It has since been found in 12 states, and there is concern that the tick’s parthenogenetic ability and wide variety of host species may allow for broader dissemination. Of the tick-borne diseases endemic to the United States, Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), a rapidly progressive and potentially fatal disease caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, is the most severe. There is considerable geographical overlap between spotted fever rickettsioses cases, which include RMSF, and the currently known distribution of H. longicornis, providing the potential for this tick to encounter this pathogen.

We have evaluated the ability of H. longicornis to acquire and transmit R. rickettsii under laboratory conditions. Haemaphysalis longicornis as larvae and nymphs acquired the pathogen while feeding on infected guinea pigs. The infection persisted through every life stage, all of which were able to transmit R. rickettsii to naïve hosts. The pathogen was also transmitted at a low frequency between generations of H. longicornis through the ova. While H. longicornis was demonstrated to be a competent vector for R. rickettsii under laboratory conditions, the probability of its involvement in the maintenance and transmission of this pathogen in nature, as well as its potential impact on human health, requires further study.

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**Comment**

The Asian Long-horned tick used to be known as pretty much just a livestock pest.  Obviously, researchers are changing their tune.  What makes this tick particularly unique and equally terrifying is its ability to reproduce through cloning – making a literal infestation very quickly. It is traipsing through the entire U.S. – having been found in at least 12 states.

Here we see it can also transmit Lyme (although they say “minimally” – whatever that means)  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/10/26/researchers-conclude-asian-longhorned-tick-contributes-minimally-to-lyme-disease-in-the-u-s/

The pressing question is what all do they transmit?  We know this so far:  

It spreads SFTS (sever fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome), “an emerging hemorrhagic fever,” causing fever, fatigue, headache, nausea, muscle pain, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, disease of the lymph nodes, and conjunctival congestion, but the potential impact of this tick on tickborne illness is not yet known. In other parts of the world, this Longhorned tick, also called the East Asian or bush tick, has been associated with several tickborne diseases, such as spotted fever rickettsioses, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, and Borrelia, the causative agent of Lyme Disease.  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/06/12/first-longhorned-tick-confirmed-in-arkansas/

For a 2016 literature review on SFTS: http://infectious-diseases-and-treatment.imedpub.com/research-advances-on-epidemiology-of-severefever-with-thrombocytopenia-syndrome-asystematic-review-of-the-literature.php?aid=17986
Although the clinical symptoms of SFTS and HGA are similar to each other, but the treatment methods of the two diseases are totally different. Doctors notice that the biggest difference between the clinical symptom of SFTS and HGA is that SFTS patients generally without skin rash, the dermorrhagia is also not seriously, and few massive hemorrhage cases were reported [23]. It is also reported that SFTS patients had gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, which are rarely observed in HGA patients [2]. So these differences can be used as the auxiliary basis of differential diagnosis.
At present, there is still no specific vaccine or antiviral therapy for SFTSV infection. Supportive treatment, including plasma, platelet, granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF), recombinant human interleukin 11, and gamma globulin is the most essential part of case treatment [44]. Meanwhile, some measures were taken to maintain water, electrolyte balance and treat complications are also very important.
Ribavirin is reported to be effective for treating Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) infections and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, but it is still inadequate to judge the effect of ribavirin on SFTS patients because of the study limitation without adequate parameters were investigated [45]. Host immune responses play an important role in determining the severity and clinical outcome in patients with infection by SFTSV.
For Viral treatment options:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2016/03/28/combating-viruses/

And lastly, please know ticks parasitize one another, potentially spreading all manner of diseases to humans.  This fact also shoots holes in the regurgitated mantra that only certain ticks carry certain pathogens.  If they are feasting on one another, they can potentially infect each other and then us:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/03/07/tick-bites-tick-hyperparasitism/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/07/19/rutgers-racing-to-contain-asian-longhorned-tick/

And now it appears to have the ability at least in a lab setting to transmit RMSF.  For more:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/09/14/rocky-mountain-spotted-fever-rmsf/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/07/25/kentucky-more-than-two-dozen-rocky-mountain-spotted-fever-cases-reported-in-grayson-county/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/10/21/mom-got-rocky-mountain-spotted-fever-while-picking-pumpkins/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2015/08/13/severe-case-of-rmsf-had-to-remove-patients-arms-and-legs/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/08/16/new-tick-causes-epidemic-of-rmsf/

 

 

 

 

Category:

research, Rickettsia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Testing, Ticks, Transmission

Tick-Borne Encephalitis Can Lead To Chronic Illness

https://danielcameronmd.com/tick-borne-encephalitis-can-lead-to-chronic-illness/

TICK-BORNE ENCEPHALITIS CAN LEAD TO CHRONIC ILLNESS

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a virus transmitted by ticks, which affects the central nervous system and is typically found in Europe and Asia. TBE is best-known to cause meningitis, meningoencephalitis, and meningoencephalomyelitis. There is no treatment for TBE, but the disease is preventable through vaccinations.

By

In an effort to better understand the role of the immune responses in the clinical course and post-treatment outcome of tick-borne encephalitis, Bogovič  and colleagues “assessed 24 cytokines and chemokines associated with innate and adaptive (T and B cell) immune responses.”

The study entitled Inflammatory Immune Responses in Patients with Tick-Borne Encephalitis: Dynamics and Association with the Outcome of the Disease compared the levels of inflammatory mediators during acute illness and later at follow-up time points

“to evaluate whether immune responses at each time point were associated with the outcome of the disease.”¹

1 in 3 patients with chronic symptoms

The authors found that “at least 30% of patients develop a post-encephalitic syndrome (PES), and approximately 5% are affected by permanent pareses.”

These patients report having

“persistent symptoms such as fatigue, arthralgias and myalgias, headache, dizziness, sleep disorders, emotional lability, memory and concentration disorders, etc., termed PES.”

Post-encephalitic syndrome may be due to “inappropriate activation of host immune responses following [tick-borne encephalitis virus] infection,” the authors suggest.

Furthermore, this “immune response may take months to years to return to homeostasis.”

A new study finds 1 in 3 patients with tick-borne encephalitis develops chronic symptoms. CLICK TO TWEET

“These findings provide new insights into the immunopathogenesis of TBE [tick-borne encephalitis] and implicate inflammatory immune responses with post-encephalitic syndrome years after the initial infection,” the authors conclude.

Tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme disease

  • A black-legged (Ixodes spp) tick can transmit infectious pathogens causing both TBE and Lyme disease.
  • Although there is no antiviral treatment for TBE, antibiotics can be used to treat Lyme disease and many of the co-infections.
  • There is currently a vaccine for tick-borne encephalitis. But the vaccine to prevent Lyme disease and co-infections was voluntarily taken off the market in 2002.

Individuals with tick-borne encephalitis can also be infected with Borrelia burgdorferi. In one study, “62 (9.1%) [patients] had proven co-infection with borreliae and 240 (35.1%) had possible co-infection,” writes Velušcek.² Meanwhile, proven borrelial co-infections have been reported even higher (13.5% and 16.7%) in other studies, writes. Velušcek.

References:
  1. Bogovič P, Lusa L, Korva M, Lotrič-Furlan S, Resman-Rus K, Pavletič M, Avšič-Županc T, Strle K, Strle F. Inflammatory Immune Responses in Patients with Tick-Borne Encephalitis: Dynamics and Association with the Outcome of the Disease. Microorganisms. 2019 Oct 31;7(11).
  2. Velušček M, Blagus R, Cerar Kišek T, Ružić-Sabljić E, Avšič-Županc T, F Bajrović F, Stupica D. Antibiotic Use and Long-Term Outcome in Patients with Tick-Borne Encephalitis and Co-Infection with Borrelia Burgdorferi Sensu Lato in Central Europe. A Retrospective Cohort Study. J Clin Med. 2019 Oct 20;8(10).

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**Comment**

I find it interesting that regarding tick-borne encephalitis virus, there is no pharmaceutical treatment, yet people are tripping all over themselves for a treatment for COVID-19 which also is supposedly a virus.  A virus is a virus is a virus.  Why is COVID-19 any different?  (Perhaps it’s a big money maker?)

Of course, Lyme literate doctors utilize many natural options for viruses with success in bolstering the immune system, unlike the highly sought after pharmaceutical options represented for COVID-19, which incidentally make huge profits:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/04/16/viruses-immunity-dr-waters-fix-your-soil-and-the-seeds-cant-grow/

Things like high dose vitamin C, zinc, monolaurin, vitamin D, fish oil, and ozone, have been utilized successfully not only for tick-borne viral infections but for COVID-19 as well:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/04/11/85-covid-patients-zero-hospitalizations-no-deaths/

This article points out the obvious ‘elephant in the room’ that those with metabolic disease struggle with COVID-19 more severely:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/04/26/covid-19-and-the-elephant-in-the-room/  The obvious answer here is dietary and lifestyle choices.  This issue would be true for anyone struggling with chronic illness. Anything that drives inflammation should be dealt with first and fore-most, yet authorities would rather put a band-aid on it and reap massive profits by insisting on a prescription drug.

Category:

Lyme, research, Ticks, Viruses

Preventing Lyme – Dr. Chesney

https://www.betterhealthguy.com/episode118  Go here for video or audio

Episode #118: Preventing Lyme with Dr. Alexis Chesney, MS, ND, LAc

April 28 2020

About My Guest

My guest for this episode is Dr. Alexis Chesney.  Alexis Chesney, MS, ND, LAc is a naturopathic physician and acupuncturist specializing in Lyme and other tick-borne diseases.  Originally from New York, Dr. Chesney received a BA from Holy Cross College in Worcester, Massachusetts. She earned a Masters in Science in acupuncture from the University of Bridgeport Acupuncture Institute and a doctorate in naturopathic medicine from the University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine in Connecticut.  She is one of the first naturopathic students to complete a hospital-based medical rotation.  With five of her colleagues from across the nation, she founded the Naturopathic Medical Student Association, which is a recipient of the AANP President’s Award.  Naturopathic residency brought her to Vermont, where she has continued to work with a team of integrative practitioners at Sojourns Community Health Clinic in Westminster. She also has a private practice in Northampton, Massachusetts.  She has dedicated her practices to the treatment of Lyme and tick-borne diseases.  She is a member of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP), Vermont Association of Naturopathic Physicians (VANP), the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) and a founding full member of International Society for Environmentally Acquired Illness (ISEAI).  Dr. Chesney serves on the Board of Directors and as the Naturopathic Medicine Committee Chair for ILADS.  She has been featured as an expert on tick-borne illness at an ILADS conference, at other professional and patient-focused conferences, on local talk radio, and in various news publications.

Key Takeaways

  • Why does the incidence of Lyme disease continue to rise?
  • Are co-infections the rule or the exception?
  • What is the difference between hard and soft ticks?
  • What times of year have the highest risk for tick exposures?
  • How common is a bulls-eye rash?
  • What is the role of Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever in Lyme-like illnesses?
  • What is alpha-gal?
  • How can tick populations be reduced?
  • What should be considered when spending time in nature to reduce the possibility of a tick bite?
  • What treatment options might be considered for prophylaxis?
  • When should one contact a doctor to discuss acute treatment strategies?
  • What testing options may be helpful early on?

Connect With My Guest

http://DrAlexisChesney.com

Disclaimer

The content of this show is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any illness or medical condition. Nothing in today’s discussion is meant to serve as medical advice or as information to facilitate self-treatment. As always, please discuss any potential health-related decisions with your own personal medical authority.

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**Comment**

Many continue to wrongly attribute tick proliferation to “climate change.” Independent tick researcher John Scott has proven climate has nothing to do with it, but rather migrating birds and photo-period (hours of sunlight required for molting) are to blame:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/11/07/ticks-on-the-move-due-to-migrating-birds-and-photoperiod-not-climate-change/

Here, even Dr. Ostfelt admits that the climate change theory doesn’t explain tick movement to Southern coastal regions, yet this isn’t enough to quell the climate theory narrative:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/04/30/lyme-disease-advice-protecting-yourself-against-ticks/

Unfortunately, while Dr. Chesney is qualified to talk about treatments and health related topics, a tick expert should be the one questioned about ticks.  She can give her opinion and state as much, but so often people give advice and information that may or may not be current. This information is then taken as gospel by patients and doctors – furthering half-truths and old dogma.  This is rife within the topics of tick-borne illness.

A great example of this is tick attachment time required for infection. Within this article Dr. Mather, a tick expert, propagates the narrative that a tick has to be attached for 24 hours to cause human infection when doctors clinically treating people have stated over and over this is not the case in reality: https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/04/28/a-runners-guide-to-tick-prevention-removal-much-of-which-is-wrong/

These issues are really important because mainstream doctors continue to believe these false statements and act upon them. We don’t need more climate data. We need accurate testing, effective treatments, and prevention measures that work.  We also need doctors to become educated to understand very little about Lyme/MSIDS fits into a neat box.

Category:

Lyme, Ticks, Treatment

Lyme Disease Awareness Month Lunch & Learn Series

Lyme Disease Awareness Month Lunch & Learn Series With Vector-Borne Disease Regional Centers of Excellence

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The CDC is hosting online activities beginning this Friday and throughout
the month of May for Lyme Disease Awareness Month.  The Vector-Borne
Diseases Regional Centers of Excellence will be providing activity updates
that feature tick-borne disease surveillance, prevention, and control work
in their respective centers through weekly lunch and Learn Series. These
webinars are open to the public.

Every Friday in May at
1pm ET / 12pm CT / 11am MT / 10am PT

Register in advance for these webinars here.
https://cdc.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_qdg9DzCHSKG6UI–sgO_bQ

May 1
“Ticks Don’t Social Distance”
Southeastern Center of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases

May 8
“Where Ticks Live & Roam”
Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases

May 15
“Where Do Tickborne Diseases Come From?”
Midwest Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne Disease

May 22
“The Travelling Tick: Studying Ticks Across Borders”
Western Gulf Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne Diseases

May 29
“California Dreamin’ Ticks”
Pacific Southwest Center of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

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Category:

Activism, Ticks